MI Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

Every question below comes from the Michigan question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. When judging whether a Michigan child still needs a car seat, what does the guidance suggest emphasizing?

   1. Height rather than age
   2. The child's age in years and months only
   3. The child weight shown on a home scale
   4. The type of vehicle the family drives
   Show answer

   Height rather than age. Michigan suggests weighing the height requirement more than age, because a seat belt may fit a smaller child poorly even after the eighth birthday. Children stay in a car seat or booster until age eight or four feet nine inches, whichever milestone arrives first. A belt crossing the neck or stomach signals the booster is still needed. Community health departments and certified technicians can check installation, since many restraints are still used incorrectly.

   Study this in the handbook: Phones, seat belts and child passengers

2. 2. Who is not allowed to display green lights on maintenance vehicles in Michigan?

   1. State road agency maintenance crews on duty
   2. Local road agency maintenance crews on duty
   3. Private contractors working beside the roadway
   4. County crews clearing snow from highways
   Show answer

   Private contractors working beside the roadway. Only state and local road agencies may equip maintenance vehicles with flashing or oscillating green lights, and private contractors may not display them. Green appears brighter to the human eye and carries farther in snow and dust, marking active road work. Those lights switch on only while work is actually taking place. When you see green flashing ahead, slow down and drive with caution rather than treating the vehicle as ordinary traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

3. 3. Besides a disability space itself, what must drivers avoid blocking for people with disabilities?

   1. The ramp and curb cuts they use
   2. The blue parking meter post
   3. The store entrance canopy
   4. The loading area in front of the building entrance
   Show answer

   The ramp and curb cuts they use. Keep ramps and curb cuts clear, since a blocked slope can trap a wheelchair user on the roadway or force a long detour. Parking near the blue meter post might annoy, but the access route is the legal and practical issue. Before you walk away, look at the curb line beside your vehicle. If your bumper or wheels cover a slope or cut, move, even when painted lines seem to allow the spot.

4. 4. A vehicle ahead of you has stopped at a Michigan crosswalk for a pedestrian. What should you do?

   1. Pass on the left after checking the oncoming lane
   2. Drive around on the shoulder if the travel lane looks clear
   3. Sound the horn so the pedestrian hurries
   4. Stop and wait until the pedestrian has cleared your lane
   Show answer

   Stop and wait until the pedestrian has cleared your lane. When a vehicle ahead stops for a pedestrian, Michigan says never attempt to pass it. The stopped car may be hiding someone who is already in your path, and the driver who stopped has a better view of the crossing. Passing on the left, using the shoulder, or honking to hurry the pedestrian all put a person at risk. Wait until the pedestrian has cleared your lane. This applies at crosswalks, intersections and mid-block crossings, and it matters most when a bus or large truck is the vehicle that stopped, since its size can hide a person completely.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

5. 5. How many lenses does a Michigan flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal head use?

   1. Three lenses shared with the main signal
   2. Five lenses including two green arrows
   3. Four separate lenses to manage traffic
   4. Two lenses that alternate yellow and red
   Show answer

   Four separate lenses to manage traffic. The flashing yellow arrow head manages left turns with four separate lenses. That design differs from the five-section doghouse arrangement, which tempts drivers to count five. Each lens has a single job, so a flashing yellow arrow means yield and turn only when opposing traffic clears. Read the lens that is lit rather than the shape of the housing, and recheck the crosswalk before you move.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

6. 6. Your vehicle is skidding on a slippery Michigan road. How should you turn the front wheels?

   1. Sharply against the direction of the skid
   2. All the way to the left or right
   3. Hold them straight until the skid ends
   4. Only enough to point where you want to go
   Show answer

   Only enough to point where you want to go. When a skid begins, Michigan says to take your foot off the accelerator and turn the front wheels only enough to keep them pointed where you want the vehicle to go, no farther. Overcorrecting with a sharp or full turn can produce a secondary skid in the opposite direction. Holding the wheels straight does not steer the car out of the slide. Keep your eyes on the intended path, ease off the accelerator, and straighten the wheels once the tires regain grip. On ice or snow, practice these gentle inputs at low speed before you need them in traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, stopping distance and night driving

7. 7. Another vehicle is passing you on a Michigan two-lane road. What should you do?

   1. Sound your horn and race the other driver
   2. Speed up so the pass ends sooner
   3. Move onto the shoulder to block the pass
   4. Maintain your speed and let the pass finish
   Show answer

   Maintain your speed and let the pass finish. When another driver is passing, Michigan tells you not to increase your speed or race that driver. Holding a steady speed and staying in your lane lets the passing driver judge the gap and finish safely. Accelerating shrinks the space the other driver needs, and moving onto the shoulder or sounding the horn adds confusion rather than help. Keep right, watch for oncoming traffic, and be ready to slow if the passing vehicle needs room to return. The passing driver is responsible for the maneuver, but your steady behavior makes it safer.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing, lane use and turns

8. 8. Besides the road edge, what may a solid white line mark on a Michigan freeway?

   1. A lane where passing is encouraged
   2. An acceleration or deceleration lane
   3. A place where parking is permitted
   4. The start of a passing zone
   Show answer

   An acceleration or deceleration lane. Solid white lines can do more than outline the right edge of the pavement. Michigan uses them to set off sharp curves, freeway acceleration and deceleration lanes, and other stretches where changing lanes is considered dangerous. They do not invite passing, allow parking, or open a passing zone; crossing a solid white line is prohibited. The cue is to read the line as a boundary rather than an invitation: enter an acceleration lane early enough to build speed, and stay within your lane through a marked curve instead of drifting across the white edge.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

9. 9. How can other drivers recognize vehicles that belong to a Michigan funeral procession?

   1. They display a florescent orange flag with a religious symbol
   2. They flash their headlights twice every block
   3. They drive with all windows fully open
   4. They display a blue flag on the rear bumper
   Show answer

   They display a florescent orange flag with a religious symbol. Vehicles taking part in a procession carry a florescent orange flag bearing a religious symbol such as a cross, a star of David, or a crescent and star. Flashing headlights twice is just a signal some drivers invent, and it carries no procession meaning here. Look for that orange flag as your cue, keep your lane, and give the line of cars room to stay together through lights and turns.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way, pedestrians and roundabouts

10. 10. A driver stops beside a legally parked car and blocks the travel lane. What is this practice called in Michigan?

    1. Curb parking, which is required
    2. Angle parking, which is allowed
    3. Double parking, which is prohibited
    4. Overnight parking, which is permitted
    Show answer

    Double parking, which is prohibited. Stopping on the street side of a legally parked vehicle is double parking, and Michigan lists it among the practices that are never allowed. It forces other traffic to go around you, often into a lane that is already occupied, and it can block a bicyclist or emergency vehicle. Curb parking, angle parking and overnight parking are different arrangements that depend on posted rules; none of them describes this maneuver. If you need to stop briefly, find a legal space or pull into a lot rather than stopping beside a parked car.

11. 11. What roadway area does this five-sided sign identify?

    
    1. A school crossing for children
    2. An adult pedestrian-only trail
    3. A hospital entrance
    4. A recreational parking area
    Show answer

    A school crossing for children. The five-sided school sign marks a school crossing for children. It is not a general recreation sign, an adult-only trail marker, or a hospital entrance sign. Slow down, watch carefully for children, and follow directions from a school crossing guard. Children may move unexpectedly or appear from behind parked vehicles, so the sign calls for active observation rather than simply maintaining the usual pace. Scan both sides of the roadway before proceeding through the marked school area.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic sign shapes and colors

12. 12. A Michigan conviction for impaired driving carries how many points?

    1. Six points go on the record for it
    2. Two points go on the record for it
    3. Three points go on the record for it
    4. Four points go on the record for it
    Show answer

    Four points go on the record for it. Michigan lists impaired driving under four points. “Six points go on the record for it” confuses impaired driving with operating while intoxicated. “Two points go on the record for it” and “Three points go on the record for it” assign values used for other categories, not impaired driving. “Four points go on the record for it” matches the table. The point value is separate from the rule that an impaired-driving conviction remains on the record permanently, so record duration does not change the classification.

    Study this in the handbook: Your driving record, points and implied consent

13. 13. Why must Michigan drivers obey posted exit ramp speed limits closely?

    1. Many ramps have sharp curves
    2. Exit ramps are patrolled more often than freeways
    3. Ramp limits protect the pavement from wear
    4. Ramp limits apply only to large trucks
    Show answer

    Many ramps have sharp curves. Michigan points out that many freeway ramps have sharp curves, which is why drivers should obey posted exit-ramp speed limits closely. Patrol frequency, pavement wear, and vehicle size are not the reason stated. The limit applies to drivers using the ramp, not only large truck operators. The safety issue is negotiating a curved ramp at the posted speed, not preserving asphalt or anticipating enforcement.

    Study this in the handbook: Aggressive driving, intersections and freeways

14. 14. What makes headlight glare from oncoming vehicles worse for a Michigan driver at night?

    1. A clean windshield with new wipers fitted
    2. A dirty windshield that scatters the light
    3. Dimming your own lights for oncoming traffic
    4. Looking toward the right edge of the road
    Show answer

    A dirty windshield that scatters the light. A dirty windshield scatters oncoming headlight glare and makes the blinding effect worse, sometimes for several seconds. Dimming your own lights helps the other driver, but it does not clean the film smearing light across your glass. Look toward the right edge of the road while glare passes, and clean both sides of the windshield regularly. Clear glass plus a proper glance point keeps lane position visible at night.

    Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, stopping distance and night driving

15. 15. A Michigan Level 1 learner drives with a designated licensed adult who is not a parent or guardian. What must that adult have?

    1. A Level 2 license held for at least six months in Michigan
    2. A signed note from the driving school that taught Segment 1 classes
    3. A signed letter of authorization from the parent or guardian
    4. A Michigan chauffeur license for carrying teen passengers
    Show answer

    A signed letter of authorization from the parent or guardian. A Level 1 learner may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age twenty-one or older seated in the front seat. When the supervising adult is a designated adult rather than a parent or guardian, that adult needs a signed letter of authorization from the parent or guardian. A driving school note does not supply that permission, and the teen license stages describe the learner, not the adult. Carry the letter during supervised drives so the arrangement can be shown if asked.

    Study this in the handbook: Graduated Driver Licensing for teens

16. 16. A driver weaves from lane to lane to get through traffic faster. How does Michigan treat that driving?

    1. It is allowed below 30 mph
    2. It is illegal
    3. It is allowed when the driver signals each move
    4. It is legal on three-lane roads only
    Show answer

    It is illegal. Weaving between lanes just to gain speed through traffic is illegal, even when each move comes with a signal. A turn signal warns others, but it does not make repeated darting lawful or safe, because nearby drivers cannot predict your next gap. Hold a steady lane, match the flow, and change lanes only for a clear purpose such as passing or turning. Smooth progress beats a car length gained by surprise.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, lane use and turns

17. 17. What should you do when trees or other obstructions block your view at an intersection?

    1. Accelerate through before cross traffic appears
    2. Stop permanently before the intersection and reverse
    3. Rely on the hidden traffic signal without looking
    4. Edge forward slowly until you can see past the obstruction
    Show answer

    Edge forward slowly until you can see past the obstruction. When an obstruction blocks the road or traffic view, move forward slowly only enough to see past it, while staying ready to stop. The manual pairs that action with continued care after the intersection becomes visible. Accelerating creates the greatest risk because cross traffic or a pedestrian may be hidden until the last moment. Reversing away from every blocked view is unnecessary, and relying on an unseen signal removes the visual check the situation requires. Use a controlled crawl, scan both directions, and proceed only when the path is clear or a signal permits movement.

    Study this in the handbook: Aggressive driving, intersections and freeways

18. 18. Why is using the center lane of a three-lane Michigan road for passing so dangerous?

    1. The center lane is reserved for transit buses during the day
    2. Approaching vehicles may also be preparing to pass there
    3. The center lane carries a lower speed limit than other lanes
    4. Center lanes are paved for winter maintenance vehicles only
    Show answer

    Approaching vehicles may also be preparing to pass there. Both directions can aim at the center lane of a three-lane road at the same moment, setting up a serious head-on crash. Extreme caution is the rule whenever you prepare to pass there, provided the lane is not marked for left turns only, which bars passing entirely. Check far ahead for an opposing vehicle drifting toward the same space. If anything looks uncertain, stay in your lane and wait for a two-lane passing opportunity instead.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, lane use and turns

19. 19. What happens to traffic convictions a Michigan driver receives in other states?

    1. They stay only in the other state and never enter Michigan driving records at all
    2. They appear on the Michigan driving record with Michigan points assessed
    3. They appear only after a Michigan court reviews each ticket in person
    4. They are added when the other state uses the same point values
    Show answer

    They appear on the Michigan driving record with Michigan points assessed. Michigan does not treat an out-of-state conviction as invisible. The Secretary of State is notified of traffic crashes, convictions and findings of responsibility in other states, and convictions from other states appear on the Michigan driving record along with points assessed under Michigan's point system. Driving across a state line therefore does not erase the record consequence. The other state's own point values do not control the Michigan entry, and no separate in-person review is described for placing the conviction on record.

    Study this in the handbook: Your driving record, points and implied consent

20. 20. A Michigan Keep Left sign tells traffic to pass in which way around a roadway feature?

    1. Only to the right-hand side of the feature
    2. Straight over the feature at slow speed
    3. Only to the left-hand side of the feature
    4. Around either side as the driver prefers
    Show answer

    Only to the left-hand side of the feature. Keep Left directs traffic to pass solely on the left-hand side of a roadway feature or obstruction ahead. Ignoring the side instruction can put you into a closed lane or work area the feature protects. Treat the sign as a lane assignment, not a suggestion, and move left early with a signal. Watch for workers or equipment just beyond the obstruction, since the feature often shields people working there.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic sign shapes and colors